The Weekly Word: New year’s hope

By Coulter Page, Pastor, Bethany Alliance Church

For in this hope we were saved.

— Romans 8:24 ESV

Who is excited for 2021? Maybe more than any other year, I hear people ready to be done with the current year.

It has been a tough year. We have walked through a lot of hard stuff, and many of us are waiting for a new year in hopes things will get better. Our hope is that with the changing of 2020 to 2021, things will get better.

While I, too, am hoping 2021 might provide a better year than 2020 did, 2020 is an amazing reminder of a Biblical truth that we must remember. Paul says it in Romans:

For we know that the whole of creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.

— Romans 8:22-24 ESV

Sin has impacted the whole of creation. We will feel the ramifications of the presence of sin here on Earth.

I am not trying to be a Debbie Downer. I am simply sharing something that we all know to be true; this life is filled with groaning moments. Sin persists so groaning persists. But there is a positive in all this. As Paul says, there is hope.

Because Jesus came, died, and defeated death, we have a hope in the midst of the groaning. This hope is stronger than the groans.

It is the hope that one day we will enter a new heaven and new earth with no more pain or tears. It is a hope that one day we will no longer feel the ramifications of sin because it will be eradicated. It is a hope found in Jesus.

As you celebrate the change from 2020 to 2021, I pray it is a time full of hope. Not a hope built on the changing of a number, rather a hope that is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. I pray that this New Year’s you are able to put your hope in Jesus.

Prayer

Father God, this year has been tough at times. I have seen so much hurt around me and have experienced some myself. But I am thankful for the hope there is in Jesus. As I turn the page on 2020, I turn my attention to you and the hope that I have in you. Help me to remember that hope even when the groans come. Amen!

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There is no doubt about it. This year has been a difficult one. Keeping focused on the hope we have can be difficult alone. We want to invite you to be a part of a family that is staying focused-Bethany Alliance Church. We have services at 10:02 a.m. on Sundays. Currently we are meeting online on our Facebook page. For more information contact us at 641-228-1318 or office@bethanyalliance.com.